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zhizhu.bsky.social
ZhiZhu
@zhizhu.bsky.social
140 followers 230 following 96 posts
"All mimsy were the borogoves..." Avid reader, occasional world traveler, raises chickens in Texas.
Interested in #Journalism #News #USPolitics #Books #SFF #Photography #Travel #Nature #Science #Ukraine, etc.
Also at @ZhiZhu@newsie.social in the Fediverse
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zhizhu.bsky.social
"'Never spread the lie in the headline' should be a hard rule of 21st century journalism.

Research shows that repeating lies helps to spread them, and people read headlines more than they read stories."
- @gilduran.com

#Journallism #Press #News #Media #Headline #Meme #Memes #Quote #Quotes #US
Meme that looks like a news headline with Headline, sub-headline, and byline. Headline: "Never spread the lie in the headline" should be a hard rule of 21st century journalism. Sub-headline: Research shows that repeating lies helps to spread them, and people headlines more than they read stories. Byline: Black and white photo of Gil Duran, and text "By Gil Duran https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:waplkqr2wuy2c4qbge6h6ed4/post/3m6sq54mqks2h
November 30, 2025 at 9:18 AM
zhizhu.bsky.social
Makes you wonder exactly what Jeffrey Epstein shared with the Russians about Trump. Just talk? Photos? Videos?

#JeffreyEpstein #Epstein #DonaldTrump #Trump #Russia
Screen shot of a social media post by Sheldon Whitehouse with text, photo with internal caption, and credit. Text: All of the times I've wondered what Putin had on Trump, and now we find out Jeffrey Epstein was talking to Putin's ambassador about Trump. Photo: Putin shaking hands with Trump while giving him a significant look. Internal Caption: Jeffrey Epstein claimed he gave Russians insight into Trump... Credit: From politico.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:53 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
The guy asking that question was demonstrating Murc's Law:
The belief that Republicans are too incapable to be held responsible for their own actions, so Dems are held responsible for GOP behavior.

Neguse, rightfully, put the responsibility for GOP behavior back on the GOP.
Meme with green background and the text: MURC'S LAW Journalists who blame Democrats for situations brought about by Republican behavior are following Murc's Law. Murc’s Law is "the widespread assumption that only Democrats have any agency or causal influence over American politics." * These journalists seem to believe (perhaps unconsciously) that Republicans have so little control over their own behavior that they cannot be held accountable for their own actions. So, instead of blaming Republicans for the political difficulties they cause, they blame Democrats for failing to control Republicans’ bad behavior. *https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2017/12/great-moments-murcs-law Watermark: ZmemeZ
November 2, 2025 at 3:22 AM
zhizhu.bsky.social
The guy asking that question was demonstrating Murc's Law:
"the widespread assumption that only Democrats have any agency or causal influence over American politics."

IOW, Republicans are too incapable to be held responsible for their own actions, so Dems are held responsible for GOP behavior.
Meme with green background and the text: MURC'S LAW Journalists who blame Democrats for situations brought about by Republican behavior are following Murc's Law. Murc’s Law is ""the widespread assumption that only Democrats have any agency or causal influence over American politics.'" * These journalists seem to believe (perhaps unconsciously) that Republicans have so little control over their own behavior that they cannot be held accountable for their own actions. So, instead of blaming Republicans for the political difficulties they cause, they blame Democrats for failing to control Republicans’ bad behavior. *https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2017/12/great-moments-murcs-law Watermark: ZmemeZ
November 1, 2025 at 2:22 AM
zhizhu.bsky.social
The USA was founded to escape the tyranny of a monarchy.

It is an act of American patriotism to protest against those trying to undermine the separation of powers created by the US Constitution.

There are #NoKings in the #USA

Saturday, Oct 18
www.nokings.org

#Protest #Resist #Resistance #US
A flag flies in a blue sky. The flag is blue with red and white text that reads, "No kings in America since 1776."
October 17, 2025 at 8:03 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
"Trump can pardon as many criminals as he wants, and can continue to threaten judges and sue and pressure the press, but the history of authoritarianism shows that justice eventually comes for the criminal-in-chief.

He cannot hide the truth forever."
- Ruth Ben-Ghiat, historian of authoritarians
Meme with blurred orange-red flames for the background and the following text: "Trump can pardon as many criminals as he wants, and can continue to threaten judges and sue and pressure the press, but the history of authoritarianism shows that justice eventually comes for the criminal-in-chief. He cannot hide the truth forever." - Ruth Ben-Ghiat, historian of authoritarians https://lucid.substack.com/p/predatory-strongmen-ii-berlusconi
September 27, 2025 at 7:28 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
"A senior diplomat reacted with shock as Donald Trump was delivering his speech to the United Nations...

"This man is stark, raving mad. Do Americans not see how embarrassing this is?"

the diplomat reportedly said."
www.msn.com/en-us/politi...

#DonaldTrump #Trump #UN #UnitedNations #News #Press
Headline: 'This man is stark, raving mad': Senior diplomat reacts in real-time to Trump UN speech Story by David Edwards
September 23, 2025 at 8:07 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
"The anti-vaccine views are wrapped into larger #sexist attitudes...

The idea that female bodies are made unclean by #vaccines is all tied up in a larger sexist view that good #women stay at home and avoid too much contact with the outside world."
www.salon.com/2025/09/22/r...

#Misogyny #Politics
Text from article: It’s all a lie — but the strategy fits into the larger moralism that fuels the MAHA movement and is centered around this notion that modern life has made women “impure” and children’s health problems are a direct result. Having sex for pleasure is the main source of this alleged “impurity,” of course, and it’s why both birth control and abortion are demonized. Vaccine opponents even falsely claim that vaccines contain the cells of aborted fetuses, an explicit reminder of their belief that children are being tainted by the wanton sexualities of modern women. Last week, the New York Times reported on how the measles outbreak that killed at least two children in Texas is impacting vaccination opponents in the state. To the reporter’s apparent surprise, it turns out these people don’t appear to care if children die. They seem to view such tragedies as a price to pay to uphold a right-wing values system that is obsessed with ideas of purity and traditional gender roles. The anti-vaccine views are wrapped into larger sexist attitudes. They expect women to home school children. They create banks of breast milk from unvaccinated women and demand babysitters be unvaccinated. The idea that female bodies are made unclean by vaccines is all tied up in a larger sexist view that good women stay at home and avoid too much contact with the outside world. Republicans may have not liked the pandemic lockdowns, but when it comes to women, a version of that is being upheld as a permanent alternative to the fictional evils of vaccines.
September 22, 2025 at 6:03 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
"Goebbels Ends Careers of Five 'Aryan' Actors Who Made Witticisms About the Nazi Regime"

"Trump Says Broadcasters Risk Losing Licenses When Hosts Criticize Him"

If the Trump regime doesn't like being compared to Nazis, why do they keep acting like Nazis?

#Trump #GOP #Politics #Censorship #USA
Headline from the New York Times: Goebbels Ends Careers of Five 'Aryan' Actors Who Made Witticisms About the Nazi Regime Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Feb. 4, 1939 https://www.nytimes.com/1939/02/04/archives/goebbels-ends-careers-of-five-aryan-actors-who-made-witticisms.html Headline from the New York Times: Trump Says Broadcasters Risk Losing Licenses When Hosts Criticize Him Published Sept. 18, 2025, Updated Sept. 19, 2025, 8:30 a.m. ET https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09/18/us/trump-news
September 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
“Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit:

There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind,
alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.
~Frank Wilhoit, composer

IOW, Free speech for me, but NOT for thee.

#CharlieKirk #GOP #Politics #US #Meme
Meme with an image of uneven scales to the left and the text: “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect. There is nothing more or else to it, and there never has been." ~Frank Wilhoit, composer https://crookedtimber.org/2018/03/21/liberals-against-progressives/#comment-729288
September 14, 2025 at 8:13 AM
zhizhu.bsky.social
"I think it's worth it.

I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights."
-Charlie Kirk

www.snopes.com/fact-check/c...

#CharlieKirk #Guns #Quote #Meme #Quotes #Memes #Shootiing
Meme with a photo of Charlie Kirk on the right and the following text on the left: "I think it's worth it. I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights." -Charlie Kirk https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/charlie-kirk-gun-deaths-quote/
September 11, 2025 at 2:54 AM
zhizhu.bsky.social
"I think it's worth it.

I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights."
- Charlie Kirk

www.snopes.com/fact-check/c...

#CharlieKirk #Guns #Quote #SecondAmendment #Meme
Meme with a photo of Charlie Kirk on the right and the following text on the left: "I think it's worth it. I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights." -Charlie Kirk https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/charlie-kirk-gun-deaths-quote/
September 11, 2025 at 1:20 AM
zhizhu.bsky.social
"I think it's worth it.

I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights."
- Charlie Kirk

www.snopes.com/fact-check/c...

#CharlieKirk #Guns #Quote #Meme #Memes #Quotes
Meme with a photo of Charlie Kirk on the right and the following text on the left: "I think it's worth it. I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights." -Charlie Kirk https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/charlie-kirk-gun-deaths-quote/
September 11, 2025 at 1:17 AM
zhizhu.bsky.social
"I think it's worth it.

I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights."
-Charlie Kirk

www.snopes.com/fact-check/c...

#CharlieKirk #Guns #Quote #Meme #Memes #Quotes
Meme with a photo of Charlie Kirk on the right and the following text on the left: "I think it's worth it. I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights." -Charlie Kirk https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/charlie-kirk-gun-deaths-quote/
September 11, 2025 at 1:11 AM
zhizhu.bsky.social
"I think it's worth it. I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights."
-Charlie Kirk

www.snopes.com/fact-check/c...

#CharlieKirk #Quote #SecondAmendment #Guns #Shooting #USA
Meme with a photo of Charlie Kirk on the right and the following text on the left: "I think it's worth it. I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights." -Charlie Kirk https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/charlie-kirk-gun-deaths-quote/
September 11, 2025 at 1:08 AM
zhizhu.bsky.social
I usually post this meme in reference to Putin & Russia, but it is also sadly applicable to Trump & the US.

Appeasing Trump will never lead to peace (between the GOP and the Dems).

Appeasement just enables Trump to dismantle democracy faster.

#Trump #GOP #Politics #USPolitics #US #USA #Meme
Meme with a photo of Vladimir Kara-Murza on the right and the following text on the left: One of the clearest lessons from history is that appeasing an aggressor will never lead to peace. We do not need to go back to the 1930s to ascertain this indisputable truth—it is enough to look at the past quarter century of Vladimir Putin’s rule in Russia. -Vladimir Kara-Murza https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/appeasing-an-aggressor-never-leads
August 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
“The number of guns appears to be directly related to the number of gun deaths in America...

For every 100 Americans, the US has 120 guns...

There are many extenuating circumstances that lead to gun deaths in the US.

Let’s start with the easy one: guns."

www.vox.com/policy-and-p...

#Guns #News
Text and chart. Text: The US leads the developed world in gun deaths, with about 12 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people... Not coincidentally, the country also has a lot more guns. For every 100 Americans, the US has 120 guns. The US has more guns than its peers. It also has more gun violence. Chart: The vertical axis is "Gun-related deaths per 100,000 people". the horizontal axis is "Guns per 100 people". The chart shows a whole bunch of nations on the bottom left of the chart (low number of guns and gun-related deaths) and one nation, the USA, way up on the top right of the chart (high number of guns and gun-related deaths).
August 28, 2025 at 4:35 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
One of the clearest lessons from history is that appeasing an aggressor will never lead to peace. We do not need to go back to the 1930s to ascertain this indisputable truth—it is enough to look at the past quarter century of Vladimir Putin’s rule in Russia.
-Vladimir Kara-Murza

#Russia #Putin
Meme with a photo of Vladimir Kara-Murza on the right and the following text on the left: One of the clearest lessons from history is that appeasing an aggressor will never lead to peace. We do not need to go back to the 1930s to ascertain this indisputable truth—it is enough to look at the past quarter century of Vladimir Putin’s rule in Russia. -Vladimir Kara-Murza https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/appeasing-an-aggressor-never-leads
August 28, 2025 at 4:28 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
"One of the clearest lessons from history is that appeasing an aggressor will never lead to peace. We do not need to go back to the 1930s to ascertain this indisputable truth—it is enough to look at... Vladimir Putin’s rule in Russia."
-Vladimir Kara-Murza

#Russia #Putin #Trump #Memes #Quotes
Meme with a photo of Vladimir Kara-Murza on the right and the following text on the left: One of the clearest lessons from history is that appeasing an aggressor will never lead to peace. We do not need to go back to the 1930s to ascertain this indisputable truth—it is enough to look at the past quarter century of Vladimir Putin’s rule in Russia. -Vladimir Kara-Murza https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/appeasing-an-aggressor-never-leads
August 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
“The number of guns appears to be directly related to the number of gun deaths in America...

For every 100 Americans, the US has 120 guns...

There are many extenuating circumstances that lead to gun deaths in the US.

Let’s start with the easy one: guns."

www.vox.com/policy-and-p...

#Guns #News
Text and chart. Text: The US leads the developed world in gun deaths, with about 12 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people... Not coincidentally, the country also has a lot more guns. For every 100 Americans, the US has 120 guns. The US has more guns than its peers. It also has more gun violence. Chart: The vertical axis is "Gun-related deaths per 100,000 people". the horizontal axis is "Guns per 100 people". The chart shows a whole bunch of nations on the bottom left of the chart (low number of guns and gun-related deaths) and one nation, the USA, way up on the top right of the chart (high number of guns and gun-related deaths).
August 28, 2025 at 3:22 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
Nicola Jennings on Trump’s promise of ‘big progress’ on Russia – cartoon
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

#Putin #Trump #Zelensky #Ukraine #Russia #USA #Politics #War #Humor #Cartoon #EditorialCartoon #PoliticalCartoon #Comic
Political cartoon with two frames, top and bottom. Top frame: Trump stands to the right with his overly long red tie forming a red carpet for Vladimir Putin to walk towards him on. Trump's tiny little hands are clapping. Bottom frame: In the background, Zelensky is sitting in a chair watching what happens with Trump and Putin. Putin has continued walking up Trump's red tie and has walked straight over Trump, trampling him into the ground. Trump's tiny hands are still clapping. Credit: Nicola Jennings
August 19, 2025 at 3:11 AM
zhizhu.bsky.social
"Perception gaps" occur when someone lies repeatedly and the news media just quotes the lies repeatedly, and utterly fails to call out and refute these repeated lies.

"Repetition cannot create truth,
but repetition can create belief."
A photo-edited screen shot of Trump speaking in front of a crowd. The Fox News chyron at the bottom of the screen has been edited to read: Repetition cannot create truth, but repetition can create belief. A supporter in the crowd behind Trump holds up a sign that has been edited to say, "Trump lies"
August 11, 2025 at 8:07 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
"Trump can pardon as many criminals as he wants, and can continue to threaten judges and sue and pressure the press, but the history of authoritarianism shows that justice eventually comes for the criminal-in-chief.

He cannot hide the truth forever."
- Ruth Ben-Ghiat, historian of authoritarians
Meme with blurred orange-red flames for the background and the following text: "Trump can pardon as many criminals as he wants, and can continue to threaten judges and sue and pressure the press, but the history of authoritarianism shows that justice eventually comes for the criminal-in-chief. He cannot hide the truth forever." - Ruth Ben-Ghiat, historian of authoritarians https://lucid.substack.com/p/predatory-strongmen-ii-berlusconi
August 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
It seems the GOP has decided to adopt Big Brother's playbook as their own:

"War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength"

-from George Orwell's dystopian novel “1984”

#Trump #GOP #Orwell #Quote #Meme #USPol #Politics
Meme with what looks like a photo of text from an old book. There are some cut off lines of text, then centered in the page is: War is Peace Freedom is Slavery Ignorance is Strength It’s an excerpt from George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984”
June 22, 2025 at 9:37 PM
zhizhu.bsky.social
Trump decided he wanted to take credit for Israel's attack on Iran, and that he wanted to escalate the US role in the war because Israel's war with Iran was getting glowing reviews on Fox News.

#Trump #Israel #Iran #War #FoxNews #USPol #Politics #US #USA #News #Press #Media
Screen shot of a social media post with text and screenshot of text. Post by Gregg Carlstrom Also this—American involvement in a war based on whether or not it's playing well on Fox News Text: But as the night wore on and the Israelis landed a spectacular series of precision strikes against Iranian military leaders and strategic sites, Mr. Trump began to change his mind about his public posture. When he woke on Friday morning, his favorite TV channel, Fox News, was broadcasting wall- to-wall imagery of what it was portraying as Israel’s military genius. And Mr. Trump could not resist claiming some credit for himself. In phone calls with reporters, Mr. Trump began hinting that he had played a bigger behind-the- scenes role in the war than people realized. Privately, he told some confidants that he was now leaning toward a more serious escalation: going along with Israel’s earlier request that the United States deliver powerful bunker-busting bombs to destroy Iran’s nuclear facility at Fordo.
June 18, 2025 at 5:14 PM